Happy Holidays, Brisbin Crew!

Students have been exploring how Californians used technology to obtain gold in more efficient ways through many different mining practices.  These mining techniques each made impacts on the land as well as California’s economy, and students have gone on fieldwork to mines and met experts who have taught them about these practices.  Seeing working mines in action, students also have met teams members who have shared with them their specific jobs; at Teichert Mine we met the Mine Manager, Biologist, Geologist, Mining Engineer, and Equipment Operator.

In wrapping up our case study brochure project, students also finished their anchor text By The Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman.  To accompany their comprehensive brochure, students wrote and peer reviewed their first Letter Essay on the text.  They are learning to develop a claim not only on the content they are learning in expeditions, but also honing in on their opinion writing skills in letter writing!  We also created an interactive map for the brochure project in which students labeled major mining areas, landmarks, travel routes, and development in California

Our final product is a silent film based on Charlie Chaplin’s “Gold Rush” movie.  The Brisbin and Akers crews both are over the moon with this product and are having a ball getting their scenes together. Mrs. Akers and I are enjoying watching them write, produce, and act in their very own production, while they incorporate expedition content into their final product. Please work with your child to develop their costumes, and they are more than welcome to bring in props to make their film fantastic!

Our writing practice has focused on developing ideas.  We have taken small moments and learned to explode them into larger pieces of writing.  This writing trait is essential to master as we become flourishing writers.  As usual, we continue to work on organization of our writing through careful construction of our pieces by taking each piece step by step through the brainstorm, graphic organizer, peer review and edit, and drafting process.  We write every day, and we love it!

In math, 5th graders are learning about fractions with uncommon denominators, and how to add and subtract them.  Mrs. Akers attended an interesting Master Class in which the facilitator spoke of the efficacy of centers and group- based work.  Through conversation with Mrs. Akers, I was inspired to change up the way we “do” math daily, and the kids are very excited about the new format.  Currently we have kids rotating through focused content-based math centers, learning one on one with me in one of them, the standard algorithm in others, and playing focused math games as well.  Alongside their daily practice, students are in the middle of their semester long project titled the “Million Dollar Bedroom Project.”  They are learning time management and chipping away at long projects through this assignment.

Students continue to track their Habits of Work in an effort to boost their academic potential.  We are a busy, bustling, productive learning environment as we work to get all of our assignments in for Celebration of Learning.

Thank you SO much to our drivers from our fieldwork to Teichert Mine, and to our wonderful Harvest of the Month Volunteer, Jenna!

Dates to Remember:

Celebration of Learning – Thursday, December 17, 6:30-8:00.  This is one of my favorite events of the year.  Please come to celebrate all of the hard work your child has put in this semester!

Friday electives are in full force!  The kids love their Fridays- if you would like to volunteer to teach an elective, we would love to have you! This session ends December 17th.

Pajama Day is Friday, December 18th.  Students may wear appropriate pj’s to school.

See you back at school!

Julie